To run or not to run: Lacson still undecided

SEN. Panfilo Lacson on Thursday admitted that he has visited different parts of the country to determine his chances in case he decides to run for president in 2016.

Lacson said that while he had expressed his intention to join the presidential race, his decision will depend on the response of the people.

“It’s all about numbers. When we talk of any elective position, we talk of numbers,” Lacson said in an interview.

Several groups have been pushing Lacson to run, including the Partido ng Manggagawa at Magsasaka (PMM), which will be launching the “Lacson for President Movement” (LPM) next week to convince the former lawmaker to run.

Jose Malvar Villegas Jr., who heads the PMM, said the party chose Lacson as its candidate for 2016 because he has a clean record in the Senate.

A group of retired officers of the defunct Philippine Constabulary (PC), Philippine National Police and the Armed Force of the Philippines also aired their support for Lacson and urged him to team up with Sen. Grace Poe.

Poe is also being wooed by the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban).

Sen. Aquilio Pimentel 3rd, president of the PDP-Laban, said Poe can be the running mate Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte if he decides to run for president.

Lacson said he wants to get the people’s pulse before he decides whether to run or not.

“If the public will respond positively then it might influence me to change my mind about going back to the Senate and run for president,” he said.